Dry Tinder
Hot winds
blow.
Rain doesn’t
come.
The tinder
is dry
waiting,
aching
to be lit
with the fire
of God.
Out of control,
wildfires
destroy,
threaten
the dry
waiting
tinder.
Are the small
backfires
of God
enough
to stop
the onslaught?
The threat
is real.
The tinder
is dry.
Which
of the fires
will set it
to burning?
(2016)
I wrote this a few days ago and wasn’t too sure why or what inspired it. My thoughts at the time were of those who are seeking....wanting so much to find and know God in their lives. They are the ones who are caught up in fear and don’t know which way to turn. They fear the onslaught of violence, afraid it will suck them in...desperate for the knowing of truth and love of God. There is the constant struggle of good vs evil and even good people find themselves doing evil things....afraid to stand against it.
There are so many posts on facebook stating how much our country needs God....as if God has deserted us. I wonder if the people who post these things realize that if we, as individuals, don’t actively know and share God, neither will our country.
We are the tinder. It is dry, it is fragile and it takes no more than a spark to set it aflame. It’s our choice whether we burn with the fires of the love of God or allow ourselves to be fuel for the violence, ignorance and greed which seems to be sweeping over us.
We are ready to burn. Which will set us afire?
Sunday, October 30, 2016
Friday, October 28, 2016
Joy and Sadness
In a recent conversation with a friend I observed, “It’s possible to experience joy and sadness at the same time.” She laughed in agreement. She knew exactly what I meant.
Since having that conversation, I find myself reflecting on the fact....especially because of my emotions concerning Mom. So.... I take the trip inward to see and understand my own co-mingling of joy and sadness.
It’s within myself I see the source of each. The joy, which has become pretty constant, is not of me. Its source is the God within myself and comes through me. The sadness, I have to admit, is totally mine. It is me feeling the void left by the loss of a loved one’s physical presence.
I can see how God’s gift of joy mixes with the sadness of self. They rise to the surface together, expressing themselves in tears of both joy and sorrow. Sometimes one is felt more strongly than the other and that’s okay.
I know both.
Since having that conversation, I find myself reflecting on the fact....especially because of my emotions concerning Mom. So.... I take the trip inward to see and understand my own co-mingling of joy and sadness.
It’s within myself I see the source of each. The joy, which has become pretty constant, is not of me. Its source is the God within myself and comes through me. The sadness, I have to admit, is totally mine. It is me feeling the void left by the loss of a loved one’s physical presence.
I can see how God’s gift of joy mixes with the sadness of self. They rise to the surface together, expressing themselves in tears of both joy and sorrow. Sometimes one is felt more strongly than the other and that’s okay.
I know both.
JOY
Wednesday, October 26, 2016
Dancing With the Angels
Just recently I was reminded of something I saw a few years ago on the screen of my mind. It was during a time of prayer I saw the angels dancing and though I thought it might be a subject for a painting, eventually realized it wasn’t. Every once in a while there were re-runs that made me smile but I saw no reason for them other than the reminding of a beautiful memory.
Recently, with these days of Mom’s non-responsiveness to the outside world, the vision of the dancing angels returned. As I watched Mom’s facial expressions and listened to my own internal knowing, I knew she was in the Light and dancing with the angels.
It’s funny how some things come together. One friend assured me she was sending the angels to Mom in her prayer. Another friend shared her seeing Mom dancing in the Light during her meditation. This morning I awoke with the knowledge she was no longer here but was as a child having the time of her life singing and dancing with the angels.
She deserves this time of joy and celebration after all she’s been through and I am happy for her! I find peace in knowing that when she is able to be released completely from her body, the angels will take her home......skipping, dancing and singing all the way!
Recently, with these days of Mom’s non-responsiveness to the outside world, the vision of the dancing angels returned. As I watched Mom’s facial expressions and listened to my own internal knowing, I knew she was in the Light and dancing with the angels.
It’s funny how some things come together. One friend assured me she was sending the angels to Mom in her prayer. Another friend shared her seeing Mom dancing in the Light during her meditation. This morning I awoke with the knowledge she was no longer here but was as a child having the time of her life singing and dancing with the angels.
She deserves this time of joy and celebration after all she’s been through and I am happy for her! I find peace in knowing that when she is able to be released completely from her body, the angels will take her home......skipping, dancing and singing all the way!
Saturday, October 1, 2016
Walls to Bridges
I have it in my mind that I’m a bridge builder. Oh, I’m not an engineer by any means, nor do I actually build physical, tangible bridges. Nonetheless, I do find myself building them....bridges leading to acceptance, understanding, appreciation and eventually to love.
Quite a while ago I started a fairly large painting I was going to title, “From Walls to Bridges”. It was to be a painting of people of all colors, nationalities, etc, each taking the stones from the walls on their side and using them to build a bridge spanning the chasm between them.... allowing each to freely walk across to the other side. I wanted to include new communities being formed; to show the re-unification of God’s family.
I wanted to show all those things I saw in my heart but either couldn’t, or didn’t know how to, express them in paint. The painting stayed stapled to the wall for quite a while. I even transferred it to a different wall so I could begin another painting. I looked at it every time I entered my studio. My students looked and wondered, some aloud, when I would finish it.
I felt sad the day I removed it from the wall, rolled it up and put it away. From my students, when they noticed its absence, was excitement in the form of, “Oh, did you finish it? Let us see! Where is it? I want to see what you did.” These quickly turned to “Oh.” “Well, you’ll get back to it when it’s time.” and “It just wasn’t ready to be painted yet.” (I love those women!)
Not finishing the painting didn’t affect my being a bridge builder. On the contrary, it made me realize my bridge building is meant to be more active than expressing it in paint. I am constantly being given opportunities to build.....some small and even some larger bridges. Sometimes I have to work hard at the building while other times I may only have to suggest and encourage while others proceed with the building.
There’s always plenty of material available and in a way, I find it kind of humorous. We simply recycle the stones others have used to build thicker and higher walls. Of course, those who are intent on building walls try to use the stones of the bridges so the work is on-going. It never stops.
Some walls are too high and too slippery to climb so there will always be bridges to build. Bridges are the only way God’s family will become united.
Unfinished
God Bless!
Connie
Quite a while ago I started a fairly large painting I was going to title, “From Walls to Bridges”. It was to be a painting of people of all colors, nationalities, etc, each taking the stones from the walls on their side and using them to build a bridge spanning the chasm between them.... allowing each to freely walk across to the other side. I wanted to include new communities being formed; to show the re-unification of God’s family.
I wanted to show all those things I saw in my heart but either couldn’t, or didn’t know how to, express them in paint. The painting stayed stapled to the wall for quite a while. I even transferred it to a different wall so I could begin another painting. I looked at it every time I entered my studio. My students looked and wondered, some aloud, when I would finish it.
I felt sad the day I removed it from the wall, rolled it up and put it away. From my students, when they noticed its absence, was excitement in the form of, “Oh, did you finish it? Let us see! Where is it? I want to see what you did.” These quickly turned to “Oh.” “Well, you’ll get back to it when it’s time.” and “It just wasn’t ready to be painted yet.” (I love those women!)
Not finishing the painting didn’t affect my being a bridge builder. On the contrary, it made me realize my bridge building is meant to be more active than expressing it in paint. I am constantly being given opportunities to build.....some small and even some larger bridges. Sometimes I have to work hard at the building while other times I may only have to suggest and encourage while others proceed with the building.
There’s always plenty of material available and in a way, I find it kind of humorous. We simply recycle the stones others have used to build thicker and higher walls. Of course, those who are intent on building walls try to use the stones of the bridges so the work is on-going. It never stops.
Some walls are too high and too slippery to climb so there will always be bridges to build. Bridges are the only way God’s family will become united.
God Bless!
Connie
Thursday, September 29, 2016
Labels
It’s interesting to me how we humans always try to label things. It’s as if we have to classify everything and once they’re classified and labeled we feel more comfortable. We can determine where the box we’re in fits amongst all the other labeled boxes.
We are a “tribal people” . We are members of families, clans, classes, groups, organizations, churches, religions and we have a tendency to label ourselves accordingly. I have met more than a few who have put themselves...and continue to live... in a box and stuck a label on it as if it describes who they are completely.
Unfortunately, the world tries to force labels upon us.... “Are you Democrat or Republican?; Jewish, Christian; Buddhist, Hindu, or Muslim?; Catholic or Protestant?; heterosexual or homosexual?; married, divorced or single?; black, hispanic or white?; rich, middle class or poor?; conservative or liberal?; and within each label there are sub-labels and classifications.
In my studying, my associations with people from “other tribes”, my learning, my seeking and my growing, I find I consciously try to avoid having any particular label or classification applied to myself as if it were the only one applicable. With an inward smile (most of you know I’m a natural rebel), I admit I enjoy how some try to apply a specific label to me and seeing their surprise and confusion when it doesn’t stick....at least not for long....or is immediately joined by another. I absolutely refuse to be put in a specific box and labeled.
The only label I accept with love, pride and confidence is the one which states, “I am a child of God”. Now, that one I would paste to my forehead!
We are a “tribal people” . We are members of families, clans, classes, groups, organizations, churches, religions and we have a tendency to label ourselves accordingly. I have met more than a few who have put themselves...and continue to live... in a box and stuck a label on it as if it describes who they are completely.
Unfortunately, the world tries to force labels upon us.... “Are you Democrat or Republican?; Jewish, Christian; Buddhist, Hindu, or Muslim?; Catholic or Protestant?; heterosexual or homosexual?; married, divorced or single?; black, hispanic or white?; rich, middle class or poor?; conservative or liberal?; and within each label there are sub-labels and classifications.
In my studying, my associations with people from “other tribes”, my learning, my seeking and my growing, I find I consciously try to avoid having any particular label or classification applied to myself as if it were the only one applicable. With an inward smile (most of you know I’m a natural rebel), I admit I enjoy how some try to apply a specific label to me and seeing their surprise and confusion when it doesn’t stick....at least not for long....or is immediately joined by another. I absolutely refuse to be put in a specific box and labeled.
The only label I accept with love, pride and confidence is the one which states, “I am a child of God”. Now, that one I would paste to my forehead!
Monday, August 22, 2016
A 'Rising Up'
While the world is in the midst of violent, murderous uprisings, there is a quiet, but steady, ‘rising up’. While people strike out hatefully against one another, driven by fear, desire for power, greed, mistrust and misunderstanding, there is a peaceful ‘rising up’ happening in every part of the world.
While Satan revels in the evil so prevalent, God quietly calls and lifts up those people who, like Isaiah of old, respond with, “Here I am, Lord. Send me.” (Isaiah 6:8) These people carry the flame of God’s light into the darkest corners of the world, sharing love and hope.
There is a ‘rising up’ of a people with a spiritual appetite, people with an innate sense of justice, people who, like Isaiah, are not afraid to step forward and speak God’s truth.
I am in awe as I watch and become more and more aware of these people as we find and unite with one another. “We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord.”. I am in awe as we come together across mountains, rivers, oceans, continents; of how language, customs, religions form no barriers. God calls us all and we all respond with “Here I am, Lord. Send me.”
We have no weapons but the ones God gives us. We carry nothing but God’s light of love and truth. It is more than enough to dispel the darkness evil needs to thrive.
Our numbers are growing in every country in the world as well as in our own families and communities. We are ‘rising up’, making ourselves heard, working together toward one end...the reality of God’s kingdom here on earth through obedience to God’s law of Love.
Here I Am, Lord
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Here+I+AM+Lord+Hymn&&view=detail&mid=E132E2E236B7E9A7722FE132E2E236B7E9A7722F&FORM=VRDGAR
Wednesday, August 10, 2016
God's Surprises
Our God is a God of surprises! As soon as I start to feel comfortable with where I am, God leads me around a corner to yet another eye-opening experience.
It’s a lot like walking into an empty room that suddenly fills with light and people coming from all directions shouting, “Surprise”! If you’ve ever had that happen to you, you know exactly what I mean. It’s initially a shock which turns into my being grateful for all the love in that room. God’s surprises are a lot like that. They might rock me back on my heels for a bit but I’ve never known one where I didn’t encounter love.
I am the child who is filled with awesome wonder at the new things I encounter and discover. I am also that child who persistently asks the question, “Why?” My questions aren’t always answered and I often forget my asking when I am lost in the wonder of discovering and seeing God in all.....in all of creation, in all people, in all religions, in all beliefs in all things. In God’s showing me all these little bits and pieces of God’s self, I clap my hands and jump for joy.
Sometimes I wonder if my heart could possibly expand enough to hold all of the God I discover. My heart must be a very good elastic to be able to stretch and include so much. Whenever there’s something more, there’s always room. God keeps showing me how big God is....how some try so hard to keep God in a box of their limited understanding and how God is so much bigger than that. God broadens my vision so I am free to love God in all.
Not only am I free to love all, but I am free to learn from all. No one denomination or religion can possibly be the only way to God. God is much, much bigger than that. So I stay open to the wonder....open to the discovery of truth.....open to love.....open to all the surprises God has in store for me.
I’m getting so I really love God’s surprises and look with excited expectation for the next one.
It’s a lot like walking into an empty room that suddenly fills with light and people coming from all directions shouting, “Surprise”! If you’ve ever had that happen to you, you know exactly what I mean. It’s initially a shock which turns into my being grateful for all the love in that room. God’s surprises are a lot like that. They might rock me back on my heels for a bit but I’ve never known one where I didn’t encounter love.
I am the child who is filled with awesome wonder at the new things I encounter and discover. I am also that child who persistently asks the question, “Why?” My questions aren’t always answered and I often forget my asking when I am lost in the wonder of discovering and seeing God in all.....in all of creation, in all people, in all religions, in all beliefs in all things. In God’s showing me all these little bits and pieces of God’s self, I clap my hands and jump for joy.
Sometimes I wonder if my heart could possibly expand enough to hold all of the God I discover. My heart must be a very good elastic to be able to stretch and include so much. Whenever there’s something more, there’s always room. God keeps showing me how big God is....how some try so hard to keep God in a box of their limited understanding and how God is so much bigger than that. God broadens my vision so I am free to love God in all.
Not only am I free to love all, but I am free to learn from all. No one denomination or religion can possibly be the only way to God. God is much, much bigger than that. So I stay open to the wonder....open to the discovery of truth.....open to love.....open to all the surprises God has in store for me.
I’m getting so I really love God’s surprises and look with excited expectation for the next one.
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